Online therapy and counselling for students
University can be one of the most exciting and liberating times of your life. You have the opportunity to meet new people, study a subject you’re passionate about, and live independently.
However, higher education also brings about lots of changes and new challenges. These include things like:
- Academic pressures
- Worries about student debt
- A lack of routine
- Being away from your parents/family for the first time
- Social pressures when making new friends
Some students can thrive on these new challenges, but for others, they can cause mental health difficulties. This is entirely normal and nothing to be ashamed about.
Student mental health
At Priory, we’re committed to supporting students with their mental health. We can offer face-to-face treatment, which takes place at our treatment centres, or you can access specialist therapy via our online therapy service.
The challenges of university
If you’re struggling at uni, it’s important to understand that you don’t have to suffer in silence or be embarrassed about the way you’re feeling. The chances are, a number of your peers and classmates are feeling the same way. Just some of the things you may be struggling with are:
- Loneliness – going to uni might be the first time in your life that you’ve been away from your family and friends. This, and the fact that you’re in new surroundings and potentially a completely different area of the country, can leave you feeling homesick and lonely. Even if you’ve been at uni for a while and feel more ‘settled’ in your surroundings, you might still miss your family and friends from home
- Anxiety – the new pressures you’re facing, such as your workload, being in a new place, having to take on more responsibility, and the prospect of student debt, can leave you feeling overwhelmed. Or if you’re in the later stages of university, you may find that you’re worried about achieving your grades and struggling with the pressure of your final exams. If you find that you’re constantly ‘on edge’ and can’t stop worrying about things, you might be struggling with anxiety
- Depression – you might find that you’re struggling to leave your room and don’t want to take part in any of the activities available to you at uni. Or you might find you’re feeling ‘down’ a lot of the time, hopeless about the future and have little to no motivation. These are all signs of depression – something else that many students can struggle with at university
- Relationship problems – as well as family and friends, uni might mean you’re also spending more time away from a romantic partner. They might be at another university, or may have stayed at home. Or they may be at the same uni as you, but mixing with a different group of people. No matter your situation, going to university is likely to have an effect on your relationship’s dynamic. Some people’s relationships can thrive with the time spent away from each other, but for others, problems can arise. These might be things like trust issues, jealousy and a lack of communication
If these issues are affecting you on a daily basis and having a negative impact on your general quality of life, it’s really important that you reach out for support. We can help you to work through them and get back on track. Remember – you don’t have to suffer in silence.